Lesson 16 - Major Triad - Part 2

SOME of you folks may have looked at the previous lesson regarding the
importance of learning the map of major and minor triads in all locations
on the fingerboard. I thought it might be a good idea to take another look
at the map and talk about some ways to make memorizing it a little easier.
If you'd like to take another look at the first post, search the
field for "TRIAD MAP".

It's important NOT to try to memorize "shapes" on the guitar. This can
become overwhelming when you begin to learn ALL the possible chords on the
instrument. Instead, try to learn the relationships between the basic chord
tones (Root, 3rd, and 5th).

It's a good idea to start with the Root/5th relationship. Here's the way it
looks, ANYWHERE on the fingerboard.

Remember, these relationships are true no matter which note you choose as
the root. A really good exercise is picking a note anywhere on the guitar
and playing the COMPLETE map of Roots and 5ths with that note as the root.
Make sure you go down to the lowest available note, and up to the highest
available note before you return to the note you started on. Make sure you
become VERY familiar with the map using the roots: E, A, D, G, and C. Any
other chord root will be 3 frets or less from one of these tones.

Here's the relationship of the 3rd to each root. Again, this is true
ANYWHERE on the fingerboard.

Notice how you have to compensate for the tuning of the guitar when you
transfer these intervals to the second and third strings. (The B and G
strings.)

Here's how the map of roots and 3rds looks when you put it together with
the Roots and 5ths. Remember, the Roots and 5ths form the skeleton of the
major and minor triads. Once you know those, the 3rds are easy to add on.

Remember, learn the Roots and 5ths WELL before you even think about adding
the 3rds. Then, practice up and down the neck as before, except this time
whenever you reach a Root, play the 3rd. Then continue on to the 5th, which
takes you to the next Root, etc.

It might be a good idea to take another look at the first post on the triad
map, at this point.

Remember, this concept is the secret to making everything else you learn on
the guitar easy. ANYTHING you learn about the guitar will be related to and
based on this map . . . chords, scales, EVERYTHING!!

Please let me know if there is an interest in this stuff ... I'll be happy
to continue with this from time to time if there is.